Windermere Hockey Club’s fixtures managed to survive despite the deluge last Saturday, but both their men’s and women’s teams endured frustrating afternoons.

In the North League Division Two West, two goals from Will Dolman were not enough to prevent Windermere men’s first XI from going down to a 4-2 home defeat against Knutsford.

The visitors were clinical in the early stages and opened up a 2-0 lead, only for ‘Mere to show great resilience in fighting back.

They halved the deficit when Dolman scored a penalty stroke before the same player equalised with a short corner strike against the high-flying visitors.

Windermere were trying a new formation and it worked well in most areas of the pitch, but the competition for the ball was so fierce that both teams were depleted at times with players sin-binned for technical infringements.

It was during one of the periods in which ‘Mere were down to ten men that Knutsford retook the lead and they went on to finally clinch the three points with a fourth goal.

Despite a fine performance from man-of-the-match Tom Moloney on the day, Windermere are still looking for their first victory of the season, after four games, while Knutsford lifted themselves up to second in the table.

A trip to Liverpool Sefton awaits on Saturday, where ‘Mere will be hoping it will be fifth-time lucky.

In the Lancashire Central League Premier Division, Windermere women’s first XI suffered a 4-0 home loss at the hands of Pendle Forest 2nd XI, their third straight defeat.

Despite the harsh scoreline, ‘Mere commanded much of the game, but just couldn’t turn their possession into goals.

It could have been a lot different had Kitty Brownell not been denied by Pendle’s goalkeeper early on, but they were chasing the game by half-time, as the visitors broke away through long balls, allowing Zoe Kidney to score twice.

Windermere pressed even harder after the interval and a score then could have changed the game, but Pendle’s greater experience showed.

They weathered the storm and once more used long balls to peg ‘Mere back, adding two more goals through Fran Ratcliffe and Catherine Kilgallon, despite the industry of Hannah Clark and Sally Harrison in midfield.

The sight of Katie Harrison’s penalty corner strike being blocked on the line by a Pendle defender with the goalkeeper beaten summed up ‘Mere’s afternoon.

They’ll have the chance to end their losing run when they travel to Longridge 2nd XI on Saturday 27 October.